Effects of Biochar and Fe-EDTA on Yield, Nutrient Uptake and Iron Translocation in Lettuce (Lactuca sativa var.crispa)

Abstract

A greenhouse study was conducted to determine the effect of biochar and Fe-EDTA on the yield, nutrient uptake and iron translocation in lettuce. It was arranged in a 2x5 factorial in randomized complete block design with three replications. The first consist of no biochar (A1) and biochar with growing medium (A2) while the second factor comprised five rates of Fe-EDTA: 0 (B1), 25 (B2), 50 (B3), 75 (B4) and 100 (B5) mg Fe/kg. The results revealed that biochar could reduce iron toxicity observed at 100 mg Fe/kg. while no biochar treatment showed iron toxicity at 75 mg Fe/kg. The biochar was used in combination with Fe-EDTA at 0-75 mg Fe/kg. Lettuce width, fresh and dry weight were not significantly different. Furthermore, nitrogen uptake was significantly different (p≤0.05). Potassium and iron uptake were highly significant difference (p≤0.01) while phosphorus uptake was not significantly different. The treatments of A1B3, A2B1 and A1B5 gave the highest of nitrogen, potassium and iron uptake (0.78, 3.16 g/plant and 38.29 mg/plant, respectively). Biochar could reduce iron translocation from the growing medium to the shoot (BCF). The translocation of iron from the root to the shoot (TF) was highest when biochar was used in combination with Fe-EDTA at 100 mg Fe/kg. but it was not statistically different from that obtained when no biochar was applied along with Fe-EDTA at 0, 25, 75 and 100 mg Fe/kg.